Rotary valve and piezo-electric firing unit

ABSTRACT

A gas valve has a knob which is rotated to turn the gas on. This causes a correspondng rotation of a lug on the knob. A lever is pivotally mounted with one end in the path of the lug so as to be contacted by the lug and pivoted as the gas is turned on. The other end of the lever forms a hammer for striking the piezoelectric element of an igniter. A spring resiliently holds the hammer against the element. As the gas is turned on the lug releases the lever to strike the element. The pivotal mounting for the lever is formed by a slot in the lever positioned on a fixed pin, so that as the knob is turned in the gas-off direction the lug will push on the lever causing it to slide on the pin and thereby move out of the path of the lug.

Sohnchen [451 Nov..l3, 1973...-

ROTARY VALVE AND PIEZO-ELECTRIC FIRING UNIT Ernst Sohnchen, Huckeswagen, Germany Assignee: Joh. Vaillant KG, Remscheid Berghauser Strasse, Germany Inventor:

Filed: Oct. 28, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 193,300

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Nov. 16, 1970 Australia A 10 269 [52] US. Cl. 431/255 [51] Int. Cl. F23q 7/12 [58] Field of Search 431/255 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,434,790 3/1969 Kanda 431/255 3,676,047 7/1972 Soma 431/255 Primary Examiner-Carroll B. Dority, Jr. Att0rneyHoward H. Darbo et al.

57 ABSTRACT A gas valve has a knob which is rotated to turn the gas on. This causes a correspondng rotation of a lug on the knob. A lever is pivotally mounted with one end in the path of the lug so as to be contacted by the lug and pivoted as the gas is turned on. The other end of the lever forms a hammer for striking the piezoelectric element of an igniter. A spring resiliently holds the hammer against the element. As the gas is turned on the lug releases the lever to strike the element. The pivotal mounting for the lever is formed by a slot in the lever positioned on a fixed pin, so that as the knob is turned in the gas-off direction the lug will push on the lever causing it to slide on the pin and thereby move out of the path of the lug.

2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDNUV 13 1975 sum 2 OF 2 ROTARY VALVE AND PIEZO-ELECTRIC FIRING UNIT BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a rotary control for the fuel supply to heaters, in which a piezo-electric'igniter device is triggered by the rotary movement of the control.

The control is one in which the ignition spark production by means of the piezo-electric igniter device takes place simultaneously with the release of pilot gas to a pilot burner on the heater.

A manually actuated piezo-electric igniter device is known (German Auslegeschrift 1,228,883), in which a plunger acting as a hammer is secured between the free limbs of a U-shaped leaf spring. The plunger is formed with a groove having an edge against which the short arm of a two-armed lever presses. The long arm of the lever is pivoted manually, so that it rotates about a fixed axis and moves the plunger against the force of the springs. A fixed stop is situated in the path of the lever and as soon as the lever abutment surface reaches this stop the pivoting movement is concluded. As the lever arm is subjected to further force, the lever is pivoted about the point of contact between the abutment surface and the stop as a fulcrum, and the lever bore formed as a.slot moves downwardly with respect to the pivot axis engaging therein. The short lever arm is thus disengaged from the edge of the plunger, so that the latter strikes a piezo-electric element by its striker portion, the force applied being supplied by the tensioned leaf springs.

As soon as the impact has been triggered, the top edge of the short lever arm is situated beneath an edge of the plunger. The axis bears against the top edge of the slot. A return spring has a return effect on the lever and causes it to slide along beneath the edge of the plunger and then re-enter the plunger groove. The lever thus moves beneath the plunger and the igniter device is re-set for fresh spark production. This process can'be repeated as often as required.

The object of the present invention is to provide a combination of a rotary switch and a piezo-electric ig-' niter device whereby'the piezo-electric igniter device is actuated simultaneously after the rotary control, for example a gas valve,has been-rotated from the off position into the ignition position, the rotary switch being free to rotate in either direction. To this end, according to the invention, a hammer of the igniter device is mounted on an arm of a two-armed lever. The lever is mourited by a slot on a pivot pin, and bears against a striker pin of the piezo-electric igniter in the inoperative position under the influence of a spring. The knob of the control has a driver lug which moves along a circular path as the knob is rotated. The other arm of the lever projects into said: path. g

The knob can be rotated in a direction in which the driver lug engages thesecond arm of the lever and piv- DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an example of an embodiment of the invention with the control knob in the off position;

FIG. 2 shows the embodiment as the knob is moved toward the ignition position;

FIG. 3 shows the embodiment in the ignition position; and

FIG. 4 shows the embodiment as the knob is moved I back to the off position.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT The following disclosure is offered for public dissemination in return for the grant of a patent. Although it is detailed to ensure adequacy and aid understanding, this is not intended to prejudice that purpose of a patent which is to cover each new inventive concept therein no matter how others may later disguise it by variations in form or additions or further improvements.

FIG. 1 illustrates a rotary gas valve 1 having a knob 2. A piezo-electric igniter device, generally 3, is mounted on the valve. The knob 2 is secured to a spindle 4. The flow of gas for the ignition flame and for the main flame of the heater is controlled via thespindle 4.

This is known and is not shown in detail. The knob 2 has marks (indicia) which deno te the respective positions in regard to controllingthe gas. The knob 2 can be rotated to bring the marks into line with a fixed pointer 5. Mark 6 denotes the initial position of the gas control member 2 at which the valves are closed. Mark 7 represents the ignition position of the knob. Mark 8 shows the valve open position for the main burner. I

Knob 2 has a'lug 9 on its periphery for actuationof the igniter device 3." The igniter device 3 includes piezo-electricelement 11 mounted on the valve frame 10. This element has one end bearing against abutment l2 on frame 10 and includes a striker pin" 13 located at its other end.

A pin 14 is secured to the frame 10. A two-arm striker lever, generally 15, is mounted on the pin to be rotatable and slidable thereon. The bearing aperture 14' is in the form of a slot in the lever. One arm, the actuating arm 16', projects into the path of rotation of the lug 9. The other arm, the hammer I7, is located to contact the striker pin 13. A tension spring 19 is connected to the hammer 17 at l8.'The other end of the spring is secured to the frame 10 at 20. High-voltage from the element 11 is fed via cable 21 to the ignition electrode (not shown) in known manner.

The operation is as follows. To start the gas heater, the knob 2 is rotated counterclockwise from the off'position' shown in FIG. 1 into; the ignition position in which the mark -7 coincides with the pointer SJFIG. 2

I illustrates the'position after a part of this rotation has been accomplished. As the rotation takes place the lug 9 engages the actuating arm 16 and pivots the striker lever 15 clockwise against the force of the spring 19. Before the ignition mark 7 coincides with the reference mark 5 (i.e., at the FIG. 2 position), ignition gas is already released. lmmediately thereafter and before the two marks coincide the lug 9 passes and thereby releases the actuating arm 16. See FIG. 3. Thereupon, the spring rotates lever in the counterclockwise direction and the hammer 17 violently strikes the striker pin 13. This is shown in broken lines in FIG. 3. This causes an ignition spark to be produced which ignites the pilot burner in known manner. I

As the knob 2 is turned further into the open position, the striker lever 15 retains the position shown in broken lines in FIG. 3. Ignition gas continues to flow out. When the mark 8 coincides with the pointer 5 the main gas flow to the heater burner commences.

To turn the heater off, the main and pilot gas flow passages are closed by a clockwise rotation of knob 2. After the first partial rotation in the direction of closure, the ignition position of the knob as shown in FIG. 3 is restored. The lug is now approaching to the actuating arm 16 which is in the position shown in broken lines in FIG. 3. As the knob 2 continues to rotate clockwise, the lug 9 contacts the arm 16. While the hammer l7 bears against the striker pin 13 as a pivot point, the actuating arm 16 is pushed back by the lug 9 against the force of the spring 19, the slot 14' moving along the pin 14. Thus, the striker lever 15 moves from the broken line position to the full line position in FIG. 4. This permits the lug 9 to move under the actuating lever 16 which has been moved out of the path of the lug. Lug 9 thereby becomes disengaged from the arm 16 and the spring 19 returns the striker member 15 to its initial position as shown in broken lines in FIG. 4 and in full lines in FIG. 1. The pin 14 thereupon bears against the end of the slot 14'. The off position shown in FIG. 1 is restored.

The ignition operation when the heater is started up can be repeated as often as required. If the pilot gas does not ignite, the knob is turned back into the off position, the lug 9 on the knob 2 moving beneath the striker member as described above.

The operation of the piezo-electric igniter device has been described with reference to a rotary gas control, in which a pilot flame associated with a main burner is ignited, some security being obtained by the automatic sequence of release of pilot gas and thereafter release of main gas flow at the marked positions on the knob. This sequence of operations does not, for example, include a burner safety device.

Of course, this piezo-electric igniter device for igniting the pilot burner can be used equally well in a main gas flow safety device controlled by the pilot flame heat. For example, in the case of a thermo-electric burner safety device, when the knob 2 reaches the ignition position and the pilot gas flow is released, the knob can be axially displaced so that an armature is applied to a magnet in known manner, the flow of pilot gas to the pilot burner being maintained when the knob is pressed in and the pilot flame heating the thermocouple.

The pilot gas and main gas control valves actuated by the rotary gas control knob may be of any desired construction. The passages for the two gases may, for example, be provided in a cock or alternatively they may be valves which are opened successively with respect to the gas flow.

I claim:

1. In the combination of a valve for controlling the flow of gas, a piezo-electric element for supplying the electric energy for gas ignition, and a device for actuating the elementwhen the valve is operated to release gas, the improvement comprising:

said valve having an element that is rotated in a given direction from a gas-off position to a gas-onposition, said valve element having a driver member which moves along a given path as said valve element is rotated between said positions;

said device for actuating the piezo-electric element including a pivotally mounted hammer, spring means operatively connected to the hammer for urging the hammer pivotally against the piezoelectric element, and an operating member connected to the hammer and positioned in said path to be contacted by one side of the driver member and moved by the driver member as the latter moves in said given direction for thereupon pivoting the hammer away from the piezo-electric element and then releasing the hammer whereupon the operating member returns to said path on the other side of the driver member; and

means for permitting said one of said members to move out of said path as the other side of the driver member comes into contact with the operating member when the driver member is moved in the reverse of said given direction.

2. In the combination of a valve for controlling the flow of gas, a piezo-electric element for supplying the electric energy for gas ignition, and a device for actuating the element when the valve is operated to release gas, the improvement comprising:

said valve having an element that is rotated in a given direction from a gas-off position to a gas-on position, said valve element having a driver member which moves along a given path as said valve element is rotated between said positions;

said device for actuating the piezo-electric element including a pivotally mounted hammer, spring means operatively connected to the hammer for urging the hammer pivotally against the piezoelectric element, and an operating member connected to the hammer and positioned in said path to be contacted by and moved by the driver member as the latter moves in said given direction for thereupon pivot-ing the hammer away from the piezo-electric element and then releasing the hammer;

said hammer and said operating member being two arms of a lever, said lever having a slot intermediate said two arms, a pin projecting into said slot and forming a pivotal mounting for said lever, said spring means holdingsaid lever with one end of the slot in contact with the pin, said slot being aligned so that as said members come together when the driver member is moved in the reverse of said direction the force of the contact will move the lever in a direction such that the pin is spaced from said one end of the slot and that movement will cause the operating member to move out of said path.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFlfiATE OF CGRRECTION Patent No. 3,771,942 Dated NOVember 13, 1973 I Ernst Sohnchen It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Under "Foreign Application Priority Data" "Australia" should read --Austria-- Signed and sealed this 12th day of November 1974.

(SEAL) Attest: I McCOY M. GIBSON JR. 0. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents ORM Po'wso uscoMM-oc scan-Pea U. 5. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 2 l9" 0-365-33. 

1. In the combination of a valve for controlling the flow of gas, a piezo-electric element for supplying the electric energy for gas ignition, and a device for actuating the element when the valve is operated to release gas, the improvement comprising: said valve having an element that is rotated in a given direction from a gas-off position to a gas-on position, said valve element having a driver member which moves along a given path as said valve element is rotated between said positions; said device for actuating the piezo-electric element including a pivotally mounted hammer, spring means operatively connected to the hammer for urging the hammer pivotally against the piezoelectric element, and an operating member coNnected to the hammer and positioned in said path to be contacted by one side of the driver member and moved by the driver member as the latter moves in said given direction for thereupon pivoting the hammer away from the piezo-electric element and then releasing the hammer whereupon the operating member returns to said path on the other side of the driver member; and means for permitting said one of said members to move out of said path as the other side of the driver member comes into contact with the operating member when the driver member is moved in the reverse of said given direction.
 2. In the combination of a valve for controlling the flow of gas, a piezo-electric element for supplying the electric energy for gas ignition, and a device for actuating the element when the valve is operated to release gas, the improvement comprising: said valve having an element that is rotated in a given direction from a gas-off position to a gas-on position, said valve element having a driver member which moves along a given path as said valve element is rotated between said positions; said device for actuating the piezo-electric element including a pivotally mounted hammer, spring means operatively connected to the hammer for urging the hammer pivotally against the piezo-electric element, and an operating member connected to the hammer and positioned in said path to be contacted by and moved by the driver member as the latter moves in said given direction for thereupon pivot-ing the hammer away from the piezo-electric element and then releasing the hammer; said hammer and said operating member being two arms of a lever, said lever having a slot intermediate said two arms, a pin projecting into said slot and forming a pivotal mounting for said lever, said spring means holding said lever with one end of the slot in contact with the pin, said slot being aligned so that as said members come together when the driver member is moved in the reverse of said direction the force of the contact will move the lever in a direction such that the pin is spaced from said one end of the slot and that movement will cause the operating member to move out of said path. 